About Us

Our Vision and Ethos

St Stephen's, Richmond, is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

We are an inclusive Christian community in the contemporary catholic Anglican tradition.

We value sacramental worship, transformational faith, hospitality and social justice.

Here are our priorities.

Our Team

Nick White

Vicar and Spiritual Director

Nick is Parish Priest at St Stephen's. He has worked in parish and welfare agency roles and works as a spiritual director / spiritual accompanist committed to the contemplative tradition.

Prior to ordination, Nick worked in social policy and community development in government. He is a Ph.D. in social anthropology.

Briar Goessi

Director of Music

Briar had an international career as a professional violinist for many decades working with orchestras including Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, State Orchestra of Victoria, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and London Symphony Orchestra.

Her interest in the organ began as a student when she held a post as a church organist while studying violin and chamber music at the Conservatoire Royale de Bruxelles in Belgium.

Michael Wood

Associate Priest

Michael is an Anglican Priest who has worked in parish and university chaplaincy.

He also works part time as a professional leadership coach and facilitator.

Michael's book, "Practicing Peace: Theology, Contemplation, and Action" was published in 2022.

Cathrine Muston

Community Development Coordinator

Cathrine coordinates our participation in Anglicare Victoria’s post-release prison support program, Get out for Good, and our educational and work experience program in partnership with Cultivating Community, Food Systems Futures.

Cathrine is a former Legal Studies and Humanities teacher and was instrumental in developing parenting courses for men in Fulham Correctional Centre.

Kathleen Alleaume-Ross

Honorary Associate Priest

Kathleen is an honorary associate priest at St Stephen's. During the week she works as a palliative pastoral care practitioner in the western suburbs. Kathleen was ordained in 2022 after completing a Ph.D. in Church History/Spirituality. She has a strong interest in contemplation and is in formation as a spiritual director with the Living Well Centre for Christian Spirituality.

Our History

In 1850 when Bishop Perry, the first bishop of the new diocese of Melbourne laid the foundation stone of St Stephens on 20 June, Richmond was on the edge of Melbourne’s urban settlement.

The site was described as “far out of town, and no human habitation could be seen except a few comfortable home nooks…and some brickmakers toiling in the distance…a pleasant suburban break in the surrounding forest.”

There was no mention of Aboriginal people though their settlements were scattered along the Yarra valley. We have made a small symbolic rectification on this point in a ground-stone near the entrance, and commit ourselves to moving beyond symbolism and working towards deep listening to the voice and stories of the first people's of this land.

The acre of land had been donated by the Rev Joseph Docker (a generous squatter from the Wangaratta area) who had purchased at auction the land between the top of Richmond hill and the Yarra River. The Parish extended to Brighton, Camberwell and Doncaster. The only remnants of the original modest church are the roof and floor of the main body of the building, though within 25 years large additions had been added. However, the early days of the parish were not just about a building but also about building and strengthening the wider community of Richmond. And this close connection with local people has continued over the 170 years of the Parish.